THE ‘GUTTER PRESS’

GUTTER PRESS = TABLOIDS• Gutter = sewer

• Early 50

• National Enquirer/ Globe...

• Based on reliable information

• Focused on everyone

• Will TO REPORT the stories

• Based on gossips

• Focus on the lives of the famous

• Will to SENSATIONALIZE the stories

• => ‘The art of exagerrating without lying»

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE ?

Tabloids Regular press

COMPARE THE LAYOUT

National Enquirer The Time

Provocative photos

Eye-catching headlines

Use of block capitals in the title

Use of catchy colors

Use of words to catch the attention

Use of emotional connotations

Topics restricted mostly to sex, scandal and tragedy =>lexical field

Words that stereotype people

ANALYSIS OF THE COVER

• Theatrical and textual visual display

• Use of MELODRAMATIC perception of reality

ANALYSIS OF THE COVER: STYLISTIC DEVICE

A DIVERSION FROM THE MATTERS OF PUBLIC IMPORTANCE

• Tabloids seen as «trash»

• Question of ethics

• Intrusion into the private style: Princess Diana’s press story

TABLOIDS AND ETHICS

From the Daily Mirror

NOTION OF PLOT AND CONSPIRACY

THE GOALS OF SUCH A LAYOUT• - To sell, sell and sell => Usually, you find the tabloids at the checkout

counters of supermarkets

• - to create and develop intimacy with the readers:

• - use of nicknames for celebrities to reinforce the sense of familiarity

• - The readers want to identify to the celebrities (common problems, divorce, money ...)

• Use of the first pronoun person

• Use of pseudo quotes (linguistic devices)